My vision for the Barbarian.

[Branduil]

I haven't started actually designing any powers or abilities yet, but I'm thinking about making a Barbarian class. Here are some ideas I've been playing with in my mind:

Primal Defender

I envision two paths; A "bloodthirsty brute" path focused on strength, with a lot of powers having extra movement and power-attack type effects; and also an "intimidating bulwark" path focused on con powers. I'm picturing lots of powers that trigger off being hit by the enemy and intimidating them with the way you nonchalantly shrug it off, then use their fear as an opening for attacks.

Rage kicks in when you're bloodied- you get +2 to attack and damage rolls, and -2 to all defenses. You also get a bonus number of temporary hit points equal to your CON score. When in rage you can only use powers with the keyword "Rage."

Unique marking ability- Rather than marking an opponent, the Barbarian can mark allies. As a minor action, the Barbarian can mark an ally within Wis mod squares. Any time that ally is attacked, and the Barbarian is within 3+Wis mod squares, as an immediate interrupt the Barbarian can move into the ally's square(pushing him to one side), and instead of receiving the enemy's attack, he makes a basic melee attack against the enemy.

These are just some ideas I've had, if people like these concepts and want me to I'll start writing up powers. Suggestions and constructive criticism are welcome.

 

[generalhenry]

I'm not sure that barbarians are 'defenders' they're not solders, they're brutes.

But there are some things I think everyone can agree on.

1. High HP
2. Medium armor
3. Two hand weapons
4. Rage

I like the idea that rage is tied to bloodied. And "bloodthirsty brute" really works, I'm just not sure "intimidating bulwark" really fits the meme.

 

[Branduil]

With "intimidating bulwark" I was picturing something like Lurtz in Fellowship of the Ring, where he pulls Aragorn's sword into him and roars, only instead of Aragorn cutting his head off the enemy is intimidated by his toughness.

I'm picturing the Barbarians as a different kind of defender- instead of defending by being able to stand his ground and keep opponents back, he rushes all over the place madly, causing chaos and fear in enemies brave or stupid enough to go after the party.

 

[generalhenry]

the problem is with your marking system the fighter or paladin would mark the target, and the barbarian would mark the fighter or paladin. Which would be far too strong a combo.

I'd rather have the barbarian not have a marking system, but rather have them be pure brutes. Hard hitting and with a ton of HP.

 

[Branduil]

That's true, I hadn't though of that. Perhaps it would be balanced if marked enemies did not provoke the attack?

 

[generalhenry]

the Barbarian can move into the ally's square(pushing him to one side)

another balancing factor might just be that as written it provokes OAs since it's a move rather than a slide.

 

[EP]

Minotaurs have the oversized power which lets them wield weapons one size larger than them. That would be SWEET on a barbarian.

 

[Deltran]

Is there any way to make a brute-like character that is actually a controller? I think a barbarian that managed this would be awesome-sauce.

 

[dcviana]

I don't think making the barbarian "mark" his allies is a good idea, simply because the "marked" keyword is a condition where the target gain -2 to attacks when not attacking you.

Maybe a power or a class feature where the barbarian can rage whenever one of his allies he can see becomes bloodied could be a good idea. That way you can create the "defender" kind of barbarian, the one that becomes furious when his friends are being obliterated. Orson, the berserker from Lodoss War, comes imediately to my mind.

 

[PowerToast]

Perhaps when the Barbarian becomes bloodied and goes into a rage, he lets out a war cry that marks all enemies within a 5 square burst for a single turn? A simple mark is unlikely to cause enemies to peel off their targets and provoke OA's just to come to the barbarian and avoid the penalty, but it might screw up a few attacks.

Further, you could have him do a warcry the first time an ally becomes bloodied during a fight. So that's two big yells, once for when his friend becomes bloodied, and once when he himself becomes bloodied.